I Became a Genius Magician at the Academy Chapter 54

54. Obtaining a ticket

54. Obtaining a ticket

There was a car illegally parked at the main entrance of the academy, which was bustling with training and lectures.

Oh Chan-soo, a regular reporter for the Chosun Ilbo, was fiddling with his notebook while the heater was turned on inside.

Then, out of boredom, I sighed deeply and looked out the window.

A world dyed pure white.

Fortunately, some magical measures had been taken at the Academy, and the amount of snow piling up was minimal.

If it weren’t for that, I would have been completely absorbed in the snow and wouldn’t be able to go anywhere.

“Is this a sign that the world is going to end…?”

Did something like this happen during the Great War?

Oh Chan-soo couldn’t help but chuckle as he recalled the magic of the great snowfall that the Demon King used.

“What is destruction in this day and age?”

How many times have we had such peace and stability?

These days, they say that even on the front lines, there are no real battles other than localized skirmishes, so it was expected that the superhumans would take care of this magical weather anomaly.

It’s just a story from a different world from my own as a social affairs reporter.

Knowing that it was time for them to step forward after all these changes were resolved, Oh Chan-soo leaned back in the driver’s seat with a relaxed attitude.

at that time.

– Booooooow!

A forklift running through the snow pouring down from afar caught Oh Chan-soo’s eye.

Oh Chan-soo looked at the headlights of the approaching car from afar, then frowned after checking the license plate number of the car.

“It looks familiar…?”

Oh Chan-soo, who reflexively looked through his notebook, soon realized who the owner of the car was and tilted his head.

“Secretary Hong Ki-rin’s car? Why is this person outside at this hour…?”

A character who always stays by President Lee Ji-ah’s side, and was the witch’s adjutant and responsible for the team’s rear during the team’s Blood Witch days.

When the Blood Witch announced her retirement, her competence was so well-established that she was the only one who could get a job at the Academy alongside her.

“Wait a minute. We got here around 7:30 in the morning… So, that means we left before then… .”

It is known that he usually lives inside the academy and rarely goes outside.

– Squeak.

The forklift, which had passed the main gate in a flash, stopped at the entrance to the outdoor parking lot, and Secretary Hong appeared inside.

She ran towards the ‘research center’ instead of the Academy, with a face full of the fresh air and a bottle of Fairy’s brand deodorant in her arms.

“What’s going on?”

An incongruous sight entered Oh Chan-soo’s field of vision as he was blankly staring.

The van that Secretary Hong rode in.

It was hard to see clearly because it was far away, but it looked like there wasn’t any snow on the forklift.

Even company vehicles with expensive snow prevention devices installed in them inevitably get snow piled up.

“…uh?”

At that moment, Oh Chan-soo’s intuition sent a signal.

A strong whiff of scoop.

There is something.

“… … .”

It was just a feeling that was a leap of logic, without any evidence or logic, but Oh Chan-soo believed his feeling at that moment.

A situation that every reporter has dreamed of at least once.

To get a scoop by feeling alone and to be recognized by society.

Oh Chan-soo wondered if now might be the time.

– Boom. Boom.

With such feelings, he sent a text message urgently to his senior who had entered the academy, but the reply he received was a sentence that cruelly trampled on Oh Chan-soo’s expectations.

–

[Angry Man] Stop fooling around and just wait, you punk

[Me] But senior

[Me] This is definitely a scoop!

[I] My feeling

[I] shouted

[I] am here!!

[me] !!!!!!

[Angry Man] You son of a bitch, can’t you hear the cries of your bank account that got its salary cut?

[Angry Man] And send it all at once after talking to it, without making it crazy.

–

“Even if you swear at me, you damn senior….”

Oh Chan-soo hesitated because he had a painful memory of following the alarm bell and getting into a big trouble, which resulted in a pay cut.

But I couldn’t give up so easily.

“It’s different than before. This is really different. I’m telling you, this is definitely going to be a huge scoop.”

I sent a few more persuasive text messages, but my senior only sent me warnings filled with annoyance.

In the meantime, Secretary Hong was seen running to the parking lot, perhaps having finished his business.

The bright light on her face made it seem like her intended task had been accomplished very well.

Soon, the forklift carrying Secretary Hong’s body left the parking lot and passed the main gate.

“Ah, senior. Hey!”

I wonder if it’s because they’re so busy, but there’s no sign that it’s been read.

Oh Chan-soo made a decision as he watched the forklift passing by.

“…shit!”

[Me] Then I will go alone to chase the scoop!!!

Oh Chan-soo turned the steering wheel and pressed hard on the accelerator.

* * *

The forklift, which had left the city and entered a remote area, soon entered a quiet area.

It’s not a place you could call a village, but it’s not enough to be called a city either.

Oh Chan-soo knew where this place led.

A place with a magical realm located somewhere between Seoul and Incheon.

Some areas were closed off due to the magic zone, and all kinds of facilities targeting the magic zone were flourishing, but after it was revealed that it was not a particularly special magic zone, the area was half ruined.

“Why here…?”

Was it about two months ago?

There were rumors that something special had been discovered in the Demon Realm.

So I still vividly remember rushing here, only to end up turning back in vain.

Oh Chan-soo carefully walked through the middle of the snowy field, using the headlights of the forklift moving through the pouring snow as a landmark.

– Tiring! Tiringtiringtiring!

– Ring ring ring!

Ignoring the smartwatch that was beeping like crazy, as if it was on fire.

What caught Oh Chan-soo’s eye as he went a little deeper inside was a rather strange sight.

“What, hey… is that thing melting right now?”

The snow that had piled up like a mountain was melting at an incredible rate.

And that’s not all.

Even in residential areas where traces of being buried in snow were clearly visible, the snow was quickly melting and disappearing.

Droplets of water ran down the soaking wet surface, as if it were rain rather than snow.

What was most surprising was that the moment the snow, which was still falling heavily, touched the surface, it turned into water and flowed.

“Crazy… T, it was a scoop. It was a scoop, senpai!”

Oh Chan-soo took out his camera and immediately started taking pictures of the scene.

Snowflakes that melt the moment they touch water.

The wondrous sight of the water flowing down to the lowlands, washing away all the snow that was there.

A snowfield disappears as if erased by a water cannon running on the road and the water spraying from it.

While filming all those scenes, Oh Chan-soo couldn’t hide his excitement.

Then suddenly he remembered the reason why he was able to come here.

“How did Secretary Hong know about this and come all the way here?”

After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I had the premise backwards and immediately corrected it.

“I didn’t come here because I knew. I was here to begin with and then went back to the academy for a bit.”

What kind of story is lurking in the background?

Suddenly, a person’s name and face came to Oh Chan-soo’s mind.

“Park Jin-woo? That guy is here…?”

Oh Chan-soo pressed the call button that appeared small on one side due to the do not disturb function without hesitation.

Immediately, my senior’s face appeared large on the screen.

[Hey! Oh Chan-soo! Where are you now!]

“Senior! Is Park Jinwoo there?”

[f*ck, driving a car right now… What? Who are you kidding?]

“What are you talking about, kidding me? Is Park Jin-woo there?”

[It’s not there. It’s not there! It’s not in the lab or the external collaboration room, it’s not there anywhere! You were guarding the main gate, right? Did Park Jin-woo go out somewhere and miss it?]

Park Jin-woo is not seen at the academy.

Oh Chan-soo gained confidence.

“Senior, I think Park Jinwoo is here?”

[What? Is that real?! Where are you now….]

“Hey! It’s moving! I’m in a hurry, so use location tracking to find it!”

[Hey, shit, what are you talking about…]

– Stop.

Oh Chan-soo, who had hung up the phone in a hurry, started following the forklift that was speeding on the asphalt that had exposed the pitch-black floor.

As if it had a clear destination, the forklift ran straight on the road without wandering.

‘It’s clear. There it is. Park Jin-woo is here!’

My hands were shaking with excitement.

That moment.

– Squeak!

When the forklift in front suddenly applied its brakes and skidded, Chan-soo Oh, who was terrified, also applied the brakes hard and turned the steering wheel.

The car stops just before it hits the side of the car.

Oh Chan-soo gasped for breath, unable to control his pounding heart.

“f*ck, f*ck. F*ck. I almost did X.”

Since it was just an ordinary company car that had only been enchanted once, if it had collided with a car that was obviously heavily or semi-magically enchanted, there was a high chance that it would end up in the junkyard.

Oh Chan-soo turned his gaze to the van, sweat dripping down his face.

I never intended to argue with Secretary Hong in the first place.

I was just curious as to what circumstances would have made her, a superhuman, step on the brakes so roughly.

– Rattling.

The driver’s door opened and Secretary Hong appeared.

Oh Chan-soo imagined that Secretary Hong would bow her head in apology, but reality was different.

She doesn’t even look at Oh Chan-soo’s car, which almost got into an accident because of her, and just looks at the alleyway filled with snow that hasn’t been cleared yet.

“What is it? What is there?”

The moment Oh Chan-soo’s gaze was about to turn there.

Secretary Hong’s expression hardened for a moment, and then he disappeared from that spot as if he had been knocked out.

The car body shook slightly in the wind that followed.

“Ugh!”

Swallowing the groan he let out reflexively, Oh Chan-soo turned his gaze to the alleyway she had been watching.

A vivid red glow stood out through the thick snow piled up.

“… … ?”

Oh Chan-soo closed his eyes tightly and then opened them.

It wasn’t an optical illusion.

blood.

It was definitely blood.

Oh Chan-soo swallowed his breath with wide eyes.

* * *

The training was interrupted midway.

Bullstein took a deep breath as he watched the people exit the container.

Because his momentum was so ominous, no one wanted to make eye contact with him.

“Whew. Whoosh.”

Bullstein waited for the culprit to emerge.

Guardian #2, everything Jinwoo Park did was nothing more than an insult to himself, the person in charge of the guide of this place.

The training appeared to be well-complied at first glance, but in fact it was woefully uncooperative.

So it didn’t matter if the results weren’t good, but the problem was that the results were always top-notch.

“Hoo, hoooooo… .”

Above all, Park Jin-woo’s method was one that ordinary civilians could never imitate or refer to.

Even a fellow superhuman wouldn’t dare dream of this, so how much worse must it be?

Bullstein held his breath and held back his anger.

There was only one best way to solve this situation.

“Guardian number one! Number two!”

Bullstein shouted as he spotted the two people walking out slowly at the very end.

“Come here and stand!”

Then Leah frowned and paused.

However, she moved forward as if she had no choice but to do so, as Park Jin-woo urged her with a confident smile on his face.

Soon, two people stood in front of Bullstein.

“Guardian number one, Leah Winterlake. Guardian number two, pak… jinu.”

“I’m Park Jin-woo.”

“Eundd. f*cking crazy.”

Bullstein glared at Guardian #2 with a fierce expression, then held out the object in his hand.

“It’s an early completion certificate. Take it and get out of here.”

“f*ck, what did you just say…?”

“Oh my, thank you!”

Jinwoo Park, who had been hastily stopping Leah, snatched the certificate from Bolstein’s hands.

Then, he looks at it under the light from the ceiling, then nods his head with a cheerful expression.

“Thank you for all your help, sir!”

“Ugh… .”

I guess you can’t find any seriousness until the very end.

Bullstein nodded his head with an uncomfortable expression.

Then he opened his mouth quietly.

“As a senior in the industry, I would like to leave you with a word of advice.”

Bullstein spoke without waiting for the other person’s answer.

“If you rely solely on such improvisations or tricks, you will most likely lose your fundamentals. If they don’t work in real life, you will eventually become powerless due to a lack of fundamentals. If that’s too much, you will easily give up. It’s not for nothing that they divide things into the right path and the wrong path. You should keep that in mind.”

Jinwoo Park smiled brightly at those words.

It’s so funny how they keep trying to differentiate between the two, whether it’s Jeongdo or Sado.

“Who sets the standards and the apostles? Industry leaders like you? Or the Human Security Organization?”

“… … .”

“Improvisation and trickery are not the apostles, they are just another method. It’s like the difference between mainstream and non-mainstream. You’re not just a person of age who is stuck in a stereotyped mold, are you?”

Bullstein shook his head slightly and gestured for them to go quickly.

He had no intention of arguing with him, so Jinwoo Park left after saying goodbye to him one last time and telling him to work hard.

“We’re going to resume training. Get ready.”

Soon, the remaining people started training again from the first stage, and when a fight broke out over the spot where Park Jin-woo had been lying, Bullstein’s anger erupted.

Park Jin-woo ended up laughing hysterically.

“Was that the crying sound I sometimes heard?”

His seniors from the department approached him as he muttered softly.

Misty and Yoon Soo-jung were almost at a sprinting pace.

“Thank you for your hard work, junior! You finished the course early in less than 3 hours. That’s really amazing!”

“huh?”

“Are you thirsty? Here’s some lukewarm water! Would you like some coffee? I can make it for you, it’s delicious!”

“Yes?”

What did these people eat wrong?

As Leah, who had been watching, showed such a look, Chris, who was standing behind them with a bitter smile, said.

“I just checked the article, junior. No, should I call you the candidate for the head of the Winter Lake clan?”

“f*ck.”

Leah’s fierce gaze, burning brightly, pierces Chris.

“If you call me that one more time.”

– Crackle.

“kill.”

“Whoa, whoa. I don’t know what’s going on, but calm down for now. I just realized the name Winter Lake too late. I was just amazed…”

– Crack!

Chris shut his mouth tightly as he noticed the huge lump right next to his head.

“He said he was going to kill me.”

“… Big. Got it.”

– chin.

“Take it easy, please. Why are you so upset about something you don’t know?”

“… … .”

“You ruined the fun. So take responsibility.”

– Bam!

The three people’s eyes widened as they watched Park Jin-woo jumping with his shins exposed.

After a while.

The two juniors were sent first to the restaurant where they had made a lunch reservation, and the remaining three headed straight to the second floor residential area.

Yoon Soo-jung packed the luggage that Chris had left there in advance with a brightened face.

Chris had already reserved this place, knowing that he would be staying there for three days.

‘I’m sorry to Senior Chris, but this feels really good~.’

Of course, the person involved didn’t care that all the hard work he had done since dawn had been in vain.

Rather, I am distracted by something else and just mechanically pack my bags again.

Yoon Soo-jung said with a bright smile.

“I bet Senior Chris is excited too?”

“huh?”

Misty looked Chris up and down and shook her head.

“It’s not?”

“Huh? You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“Yeah, it does seem like a lot. But I’m not that excited.”

“no?”

Yoon Soo-jung looked at Chris’s expression again.

As if lost in deep thought, or as if one had given up on thinking.

I just stare blankly at the backpack that I’m slowly filling up.

“Uh… I see. You don’t look excited… .”

Since he and Misty were so excited, he assumed that Chris would be excited too.

Yoon Soo-jung asked in a cautious voice, wondering if Chris could hear.

“What could it be? There is no greater blessing for our department of mysticism than this….”

“Well… well… at first glance, he seems deep and wholesome, but in reality, he’s often like a child. And he’s a bit simple.”

“Simple? Senior Chris?”

Yoon Soo-jung raised her eyebrows and tilted her head.

Misty smiled bitterly, her hands busy packing her bags.

“It’s already been three years since I’ve known him. I can’t count on one hand the number of accidents that professor’s idiot has caused.”

“Wow… Senior Chris, wake up a little…”

“Well. But, for the sake of Chris’s honor, I’d like to add that he is capable enough, even the professor acknowledges, of coordinating situations and taking care of the kids. He also has excellent crisis detection skills.”

Misty said as she zipped up her backpack.

“Isn’t it for nothing that you’re the best guide in our department?”

Pathfinder.

In the world of superhumans, they are unknown pioneers who specialize in tracking and searching, ranking next to wizards and healers.

It was such an important position that it was said that without them, exploring the Demon Realm would be impossible.

“Hmm. What on earth are you thinking, senior?”

“Well, how could I know what’s inside?”

Misty slung her backpack over her shoulder and shrugged.

“I just hope I don’t do anything stupid again.”

Then, she went straight down without waiting, so Yoon Soo-jung hurriedly packed her bags and followed her.

Then I glanced back and saw Chris carrying his backpack on his back.

Yoon Soo-jung finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and spoke up.

“Seniors.”

“Huh? … Did you call me?”

“Yes, you know, there are only a few sunny days left in our department, right?”

“…okay?”

Yoon Soo-jung tilted her head as she looked at Chris, who was smiling bitterly.

“Isn’t it? Since that’s the major that such a genius chose, what kind of repercussions would there be? Even just falling into the minor category right away would be huge… .”

“I guess so. I’m sure it will be like that.”

As Chris’ expression hardened as he spoke, Yoon Soo-jung tilted her head again.

I couldn’t understand Chris’s reaction.

It would be great if a very, very capable junior came in.

Chris seemed to be quite the opposite, with a thoughtful look on his face.

Finally, he slowly opened his mouth.

“… But I still feel suspicious.”

“Doubts? What is it?”

“Various. Don’t you know? Why would someone with such talent go to the Department of Mystery? What are they aiming for? For what reason?”

“You’re saying you’re coming to the Department of Mystery to find out something…?”

Is there any discipline that pursues romance as much as mysticism?

I didn’t understand what Chris was saying.

“Yoon Soo-jung! Stop talking to her and come here! She needs to get her head together before she starts listening to other people’s stories!”

Despite Misty’s persuasion, Yoon Soo-jung did not give up.

“No matter what… Choosing a major is strictly a personal freedom. Why are you doubting that?”

“I don’t know his intentions. What was the intention of such a great genius of the century abandoning the Department of Magic Engineering and choosing the Department of Mystery?”

“Anyway, now is a time when you are free from criminal records.”

“Then it’s even stranger. Why did you respond to the emergency summons? Wasn’t there a way to avoid it?”

“Well, if you do something like that, it will only harm the image of the department… .”

Two people raising their voices while talking about this and that.

Misty, holding her forehead, strode towards Yoon Soo-jung and grabbed her by the nape of her neck.

“I told you not to bother me.”

“No, Senior! Wait a minute! This Senior has such a severe confirmation bias!”

“The more you do that, the more stubborn you become. You need to get your head in order before you start listening to others. If you tell me to just leave it alone, then leave it alone.”

“senior!”

“Yoon Soo-jung.”

“eww….”

Yoon Soo-jung swallowed a groan and avoided Misty’s sharp gaze.

Yoon Soo-jung went down to the first floor as if she was being dragged like that.

“Eight! I understand! I understand!”

He quickly took the lead, looking cheerful as if he had forgotten what had just happened.

I soon found myself grabbing the doorknob of the side door leading out of the abandoned factory.

“Well then, let’s go back to the Demon Realm, feeling sad about the outing that ended in less than a day!”

Yoon Soo-jung says that and forcefully pushes open the side door.

“braided!”

He opened both his hands wide and pointed outside, then his eyes widened when he saw a small figure standing right in front of him.

I don’t know how long I was standing outside, but I couldn’t see properly because of the snow that covered my body.

The exposed clothes and faces were familiar.

“Junior, what’s going on? Why are you standing there?”

For some reason, Leah was waiting at the door the whole time.

Her light-deprived eyes slowly moved and followed the three people.

Yoon Soo-jung walked up to Leah and brushed off the snow that had piled up on her shoulders.

“What the hell is this? As a daughter of a noble family, you should know how to take care of yourself at least! Ahahaha… Huh?”

Then, I stopped moving because of a strange sense of discomfort.

The moment Leah’s eyes met, a thought occurred to her mind.

‘Not a person. A doll…?’

– Refund!

“Gyah!”

Yoon Soo-jung was suddenly grabbed by the nape of her neck and flew backwards.

At the same time, snow began to scatter in all directions with a ‘Koo-Woong!’ sound that shook the floor.

Yoon Soo-jung, who had barely stopped sliding on the floor, groaned and opened her eyes.

A cold breath flowed out from Leah’s mouth as she easily blocked the swords swung by Misty and Chris.

“Kyaaaaah.”

From his slightly open mouth came a menacing, beastly growl mixed with the sound of a blackboard being scratched.

Yoon Soo-jung frowned as she stood up from her seat.

“What the heck is this…?”

Just then, when I was confused by an incomprehensible phenomenon.

– Tiring!

Yoon Soo-jung’s smartwatch rang loudly.

Yoon Soo-jung lowered her gaze.

It said, ‘Secretary Hong Gi-rin.’

– Yeah.

“Secretary…?”

[Thank goodness, Mr. Soo-Jung is accepting it.]

“What happened….”

[Listen carefully.]

Yoon Soo-jung instinctively shut her mouth at Secretary Hong’s serious voice.

The voice coming from beyond the smartwatch was full of unapproachable majesty.

[Mr. Park Jin-woo and Mr. Winter Lake are there, right?]

“that….”

Park Jin-woo wasn’t there, but there was a strange Leah.

[Take the two of you and hide in an inconspicuous place. Don’t come out until I get there.]

“I….”

I’ve already been out once.

[You see? You can do that, right? There’s chaos outside right now. But don’t look out the window. It’ll be a headache if you get noticed.]

“that is….”

I felt like I stood out enough.

[I sent you a text message with the current situation, so make sure to check it… He’s back to life again! How many times has this happened? Shit, no matter how many times I kill him, it’s never going to end…]

– Stop.

– Knock… knock… .

“… … .”

Yoon Soo-jung looked straight ahead with a blank expression.

Behind the seniors who were barely holding on against Leah’s overwhelming violence that had come inside and the superhumans who had come running to ask what was going on, he saw the side door that he had left wide open.

Beyond that, pure white figures running towards the noise, and even the red light splattered all over their hands and mouths.

“… … !”

Most of them are pure white figures with large spheres and small spheres attached to each other, bouncing around like zombies.

The shock caused the red scarves around their necks and the bare branches on either side to shake violently.

Yoon Soo-jung shouted urgently.

“Everything, close it! Doors first, quickly!”

“Kyaaaaah!”

– Boom!

As if telling her to shut up, Leah’s fist shook the entire abandoned factory.

Looking at the side door falling apart from the shock, Yoon Soo-jung’s face became filled with thought.

fantasy,